Wrap offers £3.8m for design that cuts waste

Designers are set to benefit from Wrap’s latest tranche of funding, as the waste and resources action programme calls on applications for ground-breaking designs that reduce household rubbish.

Consultancies can apply for a swathe of the organisation’s £3.8m funding and create designs that either reduce packaging or cut back on food waste. The funding is left over from an initial pot of £8m, which formed part of Wrap’s waste minimisation innovation fund, established to stimulate environmentally-friendly product initiatives.

A stipulation for call to entries is that ideas must involve a retailer or major brand to maximise the chance of the designs being rolled out nationally. The closing date for the food waste application is 31 March, and 20 April for the packaging innovation category.

‘We are keen to encourage applications from project teams which could include manufacturers, packaging suppliers, designers as well as brands and retailers. All proposals must demonstrate a potential major impact on minimising household waste,’ says Mike Robey, innovation fund manager at Wrap.

So far, Wrap has awarded £4.2m and approved 28 projects to reduce waste. Further information is available at www.wrap.org.uk.